Alex Rushed Into Holland Decision?

It has emerged this week that Crewe may have been rushed into Dario and Steve Holland`s respective reappointments as Technical Director and First Team Coach. These reports come after it has been revealed that in the weeks leading up to the end of last season the national press were ready to publish stories on Dario imminent retirement as manager of Crewe Alexandra.

The change of roles for two of Crewe`s top coaches was at some point inevitable but this story would explain the rapidly arranged and rather muddled press conference the Alex gave on April 20th. Nobody in the country could truly decipher what had been said and there were certainly crossed wires between manager Gradi and chairman John Bowler.

With Steve Holland reportedly headhunted by Tottenham`s academy not long before, clearly Gradi and Bowler must have offered him certain assurances on his future and role within the first team to make him stay. This meant Holland`s promotion within the ranks to an official first team coaching role would have surely happened sooner rather than later anyway. Previously Academy director, Holland is seen as extremely well respected by Crewe players past and present and was instrumental in securing defender Chris McCready`s return to Gresty Road last month.

Whether Gradi intentional planned to give up some of his first team duties to Holland just yet can only be speculated. With Holland`s role at the club elevated to first team coach though, coupled with the recent acquisition of his UEFA Pro coaching license and Gradi still at the helm steadying the ship, the future is seemingly looking bright at the Alexandra Stadium.

Comments

Dario's been here 24 years this month, and Palace was his last job before us. Also managed Wimbledon and coached at Chelsea and Leyton Orient before Palace. Still amazing to see what he's done at Gresty Road though, not just our league position but the facilities that his success has paid for. There's a big article on his time here under "Club Menu" > "Dario Gradi".